Filter



- Oct 16,1928. 1,687,863

W. C. GRAHAM FILTER Filed July 26, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVE TOR.

W 6. Gr am.

BY g g ATTORNEY.

Oct. 16, 1928.

w. c. GRAHAM FILTER i v Mama m m 3 6 F m .6 O o C m a 1 3 z O Ow lfiFiled July 26 ham ' ATTQRNEY.

if Patented Oct. 16,1928

VUNlTED STATES (PATEN oFFICE.

WALTON C. GRAHAM, "OF DENVER, COLORADO.

FILTER.

Application filed July 26, 1924. Serial No. 728,454.

My invention relatesto vacuum filters of the character used for theseparation of solids from liquids in different industries, and itsprimary object is to provide a mechanism for the filtration of materialsin individually operating units, which combines simplicity ofconstruction with high efficiency, great.

' I laid across a pit 16 in which th'e lower portion of the wheelextends,. and it carries at one capacity and economy in operation. I v

In comparison with other filters of the same general class, at presentin common use, my improved filter has many advantages as will fullyappear in the description. g I 3 7 An embodiment of my invention hasbeen illustrated in the accom an in drawin s in l the several views ofwhich like parts are similarly designated and in wh1ch- Figure 1represents a front elevation of my improved filter in its preferred formFigure 2, a vertical sectionalong the line 22, Figure 1;

Figure 3, a t n tion through one of the trayunits of the filter, as onthe line 33 in Figure 1, drawn Figure 4, a transverse section throughthe tray unit taken on the line H, Figure 3;

Figure 5, an enlarged sectional elevationof the valve mechanism at 'theright-hand side of the filter as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6, a section taken on the line 6-6, Figure 5; p i

Figure 7, of the'valve mechanism at the left-hand side of the-filter;and 'Y Figure 8, a section along the line 88, Figure 7. I

Referring further to thedrawings, the reference numeral 5 designates anendless carrier preferably made in the form of awheel,

which supports a series of filter units 6.

equidistantly spaced at its periphery.

The wheel as shown in the drawings, comprises two sections each composedof a rim 7 connected by radial spokes 9 to a hub 8 which by means of akey 10 or'other suitable fasten ing appliance, is fixed upon ahorizontally supported shaft 12.

The rim ofthe wheel is madeup of end-to end adjoining straight pieces ofangle-sec course of the following fragmentary longitudinal sec-' anenlarged sectional elevation tion which are rigidly connected byriveted,

plates 13 and the spokes are preferably arrangedto connect withthe rimatthe points 'of connection of its members as shown in 'Figure 1.

on horizontal beams'15 .of channel-section of its ends a pulley 17 forits connection with a motor or other source of mechanical energy.

shaped trays which are loosely suspended from the rims of the wheelsections by hollow trunnions 19 and 19 passing through the boxes 18 Thecenter of gravity of the'trays is below their axes of rotation so thatduring rotation of the wheel, they will constantly maintain theirupright position unless they are mechanically inverted for the dischargeof their contents as will hereinafter be more fully described. i

The trays are ments20 and 21 by a horizontally dis osed filter plate 22which is removably he din place by clips 23 orother suitable means, and

the hollow trunnions atopposite ends oft-he I T trays are. eachconnected with one-0f said compartments as best shown in Figure '3.Thus, the trunnion at the right-hand end of H the tray connectswiththeupper compartmentthrough the medium of a perforated pipe 24 andthe trunnionat the opposite end of the tray is connected with thelowercompartment by means of a passage 26, the pipe 24 being supportedlongitudinally of the tray and in parallel relation to the filter plate.

The filtering medium maybe composed of acloth-covered frame or plate orit may consist of any other porous or foram'inous, substance similarlyor otherwise mounted or constructed- -as may be found most suitable forthe filtration of the particular material under treatment. i

The shaftis supported boxes 14 mounted divided into two com 'part- Citldounted at opposite sides of the rotary wheel are the valves 27 and 28which in the operation control the flow of material, wash waters andpressure fluids to and from the several tray units.

The valves are in construction and mode of operation similar to othervalves heretofore used in filtering machines for an equivalent purposeand but a brief explanation will suffice to convey a clear understandingof their functions in the operation of the present invention.

Each valve consists of a stationary member 29 iminovably mounted upon asuitable sup port 30, and a rotary member 31. which is connected tothelshaft of the wheel by a key 32;. The rotary member has a circularseries of equidistant openings 33 which bymeans of radially arrangedpipes 34L are separately connected tothe hollow trunnions of theseveralfiltering trays.

an air and water tight connection between the trunnions and therespective pipes is established through the medium of a ground joint asshown at 35 and 36 or any other expedient serving to adapt the" traysfor free piv otal movement to maintain their horizontal position duringrotation of the wheel and to reverse their position for the purpose ofdischarging the solid residue of the material after filtration, as willhereinafter be eX- plained.

Each pipe is further more provided with a valve 37 so that in case anyone or more of the units are incapacitated or in case it is' desired toreduce the output of the machine, the fluid-flow to and from anyunitniay be dis continued without interference with the operation of themachine as an entirety.

The movable member of the valves and 28 is connected-with the respectivestationary member by an air andw'ater tight 1'0111t as 1ndi'cat'ed at 38in the drawings, andone or'both of the niembersare hollowed to providechambers 89 in connection with the openings 33 in which the pipesll iare conneeted. A stuffinfg boi 40 applied to the stationary member ofthe valves prevents leakage bf fluid through its opening around theshaft.

The chamber of the valve at the righthand side of the machine is dividedinto separate compartments 41, 42 and 43 one of which is connected withthe source of supply of matepipe 49 placed in communication with the 5source of water herelnbefore referred to or with a source of other fluidunder pressure capable of dislodging the filter cake at the terminationof the cycle of operations of the machine.

"he compartments of the chambers and their interposed partitions areproportioned so that by rotation of the movable members of the vayeswith the wheel the pipes connecting the chambers with the filteringunits are. during predetermined periods of each revolution of the wheelbrought successively in communication with each compartment separatefrom the others. 7

, The duration ofthe periods of-cor'nmunication' at the pipes with thedifferent compartments of the valves be varied by making one or inoieoftheir partitions circularly adjustable. This; however is a commoneicpeclient in valves of this character and it has not been thoughtnecessary to either show or describe this feature in connection with thepresent invention;

In order to periodicallyreinove the-solid residue of filtration formedin the up per coinpartniehts of the filtering units,- means areprovidedto invert the units at regular intervals in the cycle ofoperations abovea-receiver into which the'residue is discharged.

Different means may be'devised to accomplish this purpose for thedischarge ofthe filter-cakes either one or more times during eachrevolution 01' at intervals oftwo or more revolutions as may be found tobe most desirable for the treatment of different materials. I I

The mechanism illustrated in the drawings consists of apair of segmentalracksht' disposed below the wheel and adapted-to mesh with gear wheels5lmo'un'te i pon the'trunnions of the filtering trays at opposite-ends 7thereof. A receiver 52 is placedbelow the units'to receive the filtercakeswhich are dis charged from the upper compartments of the units whenthey are-inrertcd bylthe engage;

ment of the respective piear wheels with the racks as shownin Figure '1I In the operation of my invention,

in Figure l, at a velocity sufficiently LO permit of a substantiallycomplete separation of the liquid from the solids in tire materialsupplied to the "filtering un-itsg 'during' de terminate cycle oroperation which in the construction illustrated in the drawhigs e tendsover the period c'overe'd by one revolution of the wheel." i

By the operation of the valves 2'? and 28 as hereinbefore explained, theliquid material is fed into theupper conuaartments of the units at therisingside of the whe'elthrough the perforated pipes 2 L while the sametime the air is exhausted from the lowercompart ments throughthe'outlets 26. e c

The suction draws the liquid of the mate the" wheel is rotated inthedirection of the. a :row'

rial throughth'e meshes of the filtering plates solids retained intheupper compartments'are i rack bars50.

and out throu h'the vacuum pump to'a conveniently locatedfiltrate-reservoir, and the compactedin the form of cakes plates.

' At a upon the al is discontinued by the respective opening 33 of thevalve 27 moving out ot connection with the compartment 41 and awashwater the passage 26 with the con'ipartmeuts 413' and A7 k Theconnection of the units with the vac- ,uum pump is at the same timeinterrupted inv the valve 528 and the units are inverted by theengagement of their gear wheels 51 with the The combined actions of thepressure fluids injected through the perforations of the pipe 24; andthrough the passage 26, dislodge the filter cakes from the plates uponwhich they were formed and causes the cakes to fall into the receiver 52from where they may be removed by any suitable means.

Upon the disengagement of the gears and the racks, the unitsautomatically resume their original upright position owing to thelocation or" their center of gravlty below their pivotal axes and theabove described operation is repeated. i

It will be apparent that if so desired, the

pressure fluid abovereferred to. may be a.

liquid obtained from the same source which supplies the wash water forthe removal of soluble matter from the filter cakes and that underfavorable conditions it may suiiice'to supply the fluid for thedislodgement oi' the cakes through the pipes in the lower compart-mentsof the filter units only.

it will also be observed that by a somewhat difi'erent arrangement ofthe compar ments of the automatic valves, the wash waterdrawn throughthe solids in the trays, may be delivered into a reservoir separatetrom'that to which the filtrate is conducted, under the influence of thepartial vacuum maintained in the lower compartment of the units duringthe supply of both the material and the water and that by continuing thesupply of pres- I sure fluid for a short period after the cakesdeterminate point in "the circular movement of the units, the supply ofmaterr have been removed, through eitherone or both of the pipesof thecompartments of the filter units, j the filtering medium is thoroughlycleansed during eac'hcycle' of opera-f tion and the machine is thusconstantly main tained in a condition of maximum efliciency,

This, however, is not a new expedien-t since the same'actiontakesplace-in many filtering machines of the rotary drum typeiused here- 7tofore.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: 1

1; A filter comprising a moving carrier, a

trunnioned filter tray movably mounted thereon, a filtering mediumdividing the tray into upper and lower compartments, conduits connectingthe trunnions of the tray with the two compartments respectively,iandvalve "means adapted to connect the trunnion connected with the lowercompartment, with suction means and to connect the other trunnionconsecutively with a feed supply and a source of water supply duringdeterminate periods in the movement of the carrier; i

2. A filter comprising a moving carrier, a filter unit movably mountedthereon, a supply conduit dischargingin the unit, and a valve adapted toconnect the conduit consecutively with a feed supply and a source ofwater'supply during determinate periods in the movement of the carrier.

8. A-filter comprising a moving carrier, a filter tray movablymountedthereon, a filtering medium dividing the tray into upper andlower compartments, a conduit discharging in theupper'compartment, andvalves for connecting the lower compartment with a suctron means andsimultaneously connecting the conduit consecutively with a feed supplyand a source of water' supply during determinate periods in the movementof the carrier. 4. A filter comprising a moving carrier, a

filter unit movably mounted thereon, a filter ing medium dividing theunit'into upper and lower compartments, means for inverting the unit ata predetermined point in the movement of the carrier, and a valveelement for connecting the compartments respectively with a source offluid pressure and a 'source of water supply while the unit is inverted.

5. A filter comprising a vmoving carrier, :1 filter unitmovably mountedthereon, a filters ing medium dividing the unit into upper and lowercompartments, means for inverting the unit at a predetermined point inthe movement of the carrier, and valve means for con-- necting the uppercompartment consecutively V with a feed supply and with asourc'eof watersupply during determinate periods in the movement of the carrierand witha source of water supply during the period of inversion, and forconnecting the lower compartment with a suction means during the periodsof consecutive supply of feed andwater and with a source of pressurefluid while the unit is inverted.

6. A filter comprising a movingcarrier, a filter unit movahiy n'iountedthereon afiltering medium dividing the unit into upper andlowercompartments, means for inverting the unit at a predetermined pointin the movementof the carrier, and valves connecting the ment with asuction means during said period t of supply, and with a. source ofpressure fluid during the period of inversion.

' In testimony whereof I have'aflixed my.si.g-

nature.

WALToNo. GRAHAM.

